Ms. America Claire Buffie a Pro Gay, Equality Beauty

I know we all made a silent pact to never again mention Carrie Prejean, Miss California/Traditional Marriage/Sex Tapes/National Organization for Marriage, but I'm going to bring her up one last time as a point of comparison. Two years ago, the Miss America pageant brought us Carrie Prejean and her "no offense to anyone" answer that she believed marriage is only for one man and one woman. This year, this Saturday, Miss America will instead bring us Claire Buffie.

Claire Buffie, reigning Miss New York, is yet another woman who will be smiling, waving, strutting her stuff in a bikini and a ball gown, in the hopes of becoming Miss America 2011. Except there is one thing that separates Buffie from every single contestant to ever compete for the sparkly tiara: she is running on a pro-gay, pro-equality platform.

Ever since being crowned Miss New York, Buffie has been fighting for inclusion and civil rights with her"Straight for Equality: Let's Talk" campaign. She was an honoree at this year's Empire State Pride Agenda. She is an executive board member of the New York City chapter of PFLAG, and an active volunteer in its Safe Schools Program, which helps schools combat bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

This Saturday she will make Miss America history by becoming the first woman to bring the fight for LGBT equality to the Miss America stage. She may just win. But she needs your help.

Miss America is allowing us humble folk who look mostly okay in a bathing suit but can't twirl a baton for bupkis to weigh in on who we think represents us the best. The winner of the vote will receive the title "America's Choice," the pageant equivalent of being voted Most Popular in High School. It's no Swarovski encrusted sash, but it would send a phenomenal message to the Miss America audience.

There are four ways to vote, and you may vote once per contestant per voting method.

1. Send the text "MANY" to 24470. (Texting and messaging rates may apply.)

2. Vote for Claire's video via the Miss America website.

3. Vote for Claire's video by clicking "like" on her Miss America Facebook page.

4. Vote for Claire's video by clicking "like" on her Miss America YouTube page.

Go. Go right now. Send Claire your four votes, send Claire your support and send America a message that a pro-equality platform is as American as, well, Miss America.

Photo credit: Claire Buffie